Off you go....

Genesis 12 has been of interest to me over the last few days. Specifically the first several verses. Let me allow you to read it first, and then I’ll let you know what I’m thinking… 

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 

2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 

5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan, 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites.

7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

8 After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord. 9 Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev.

10 At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner….” (NLT2)

A few things stand out to me as I read this passage, first of all Abe's obedience. 

Right in the first verse of this passage, God told Abe to go, and we are told that Abe went. 

If he complained about it, we are not told about it, He just went. Literally picked up everything and went. He obeyed God, picked up his stuff and went. 

He had no idea where he was going.(at first) He had no clue how long he would be gone for. He just picked up and went. 

When Abe and company arrived in Canaan, he went a little further down the road and built an alter to the Lord. 

Abe was an old man when God asked him to leave. Abe had a lot of “stuff” when God asked him to leave. 

Abe didn't question God— if he did, we’re not told-- he simply picked up his “stuff” and left. 

I wonder what God might be asking you to do today? I wonder what God might be asking me to do today? I wonder if we will DO what God might be asking of us. 

You see, it all comes down to obedience. Will we “trust and obey”? 

It was Abe’s obedience that God was looking for, and Abe’s obedience to what God had told Him to do was good. (you can read a little more about this in Romans 4)

The second thing I notice in this passage is found in verse 10. 

Before we re-read that verse, let’s keep in mind that the Order to obey God had been given….

Here, again is the first part of verse 10: “At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner”

Now, the famine had led Abe to do something pretty deceiving— as you will read if you continue on in this chapter, but I’m not talking about that at this time. 

The point I’m trying to make is that sometimes when we follow what we believe God is asking us to do, the “famine” comes. Sometimes its pretty severe, as it was in Abe’s day.  

You can substitute “famine” for any number of things. It could be the result from the Doctor that is less than desirable. 

It could be the loss of a job. It could be the your BFF has turned their back on you. 

It could be anything. 

And hard times sometimes come when we are following God, so the question that I have for you to consider today is this: “Knowing that the famine is coming, will you still follow after God?” 

Will you chose to say: “Though He slay me, still I will follow”? 

Please understand, that God has the power to remove whatever storm that comes our way, but sometimes He doesn’t. It’s in those times that He wants us to trust Him to help us through the famine/storm/tough time. 

Just because the famine comes doesn't mean that God isn't with us. It just means that we need trust Him more. 

Is God asking you to do something, give something, or do something? Will you respond with a “yes, Lord”? 

The choice is yours, but the old hymn writer had it right on when he wrote: “Trust and obey, for their is no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.”

Also understand, than when the “famine" comes— and it almost always does— God is still God, He is still Emmanuel, He is still with you. 

So, Go!